Words Matter: A Response to “Catholic Taliban”

At the September 2^nd Board of Supervisors meeting, a local resident coined the derogatory nickname “Catholic Taliban” for “truckloads” of her fellow townspeople. This paper announced it across the community with headline news. She said this a few days before September 11^th, the day made infamous by Taliban allies al-Qaeda. Likening one’s neighbors to these bloodthirsty terrorists is despicable, and I am disheartened that someone in this town would do it. It is also alarming in light of the recent murders of Catholic school children in Minneapolis and the Christian conservative Charlie Kirk, who were slaughtered for their religious or political beliefs. Hateful rhetoric fueled these atrocities.

Many of the insults lobbed at our elected officials in public spaces recently have been objectionable, even if their policy positions are repugnant. But it is downright unacceptable in this community to label thousands of our Front Royal neighbors as “Taliban” terrorists. Such words could incite the wrong reader to unspeakable action.

I do not speak for Catholics or anyone else, but out of love, I feel compelled to respond. I have lived in Front Royal with my family for four years. As a nurse and a nurse practitioner, I have worked in the Shenandoah Valley for eight years. We love being a part of this town. I am a devout Catholic. To be Catholic is to love God and your neighbor. I am confident the vast majority of Catholics in Front Royal feel blessed to be here and fully embrace this place as home. In return for this blessing, I believe they are making a positive contribution.

Catholics live in every neighborhood in Front Royal. They are part of the economic and cultural fabric of the town. They are doctors, nurses, and first responders. They are builders, ranchers, mechanics, landscapers, and handymen. They are teachers, lawyers, and accountants.  They own restaurants and many other companies, such as software, roofing, security, and property management. Many are active or retired military. Catholics run their own schools, producing good young men and women, many of whom want to stay and help this town flourish. Their children participate in Little League baseball, recreation league sports, dance schools, martial arts, and many other local activities. Catholics live, work, and play in the community every day.

There are many later-generation residents of Front Royal, including some Catholics, who could do more to appreciate the history of this beautiful town. Maybe their own views lack perspective or depth. Perhaps they should listen with more open minds and hearts to important local issues. Yet these same people have a right to express those views publicly without fear of physical retribution. We must protect freedom of speech to avoid violence. Individuals need to keep their speech civil and respectful so that communication is never discouraged. When communication stops, catastrophe soon follows. There is nothing that warrants calling Front Royal townspeople terrorists. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to consider the power of words – and what actions they might inspire.

Joe Norton
Front Royal, VA

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